Aulonocara jacobfreibergi Undu Reef

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi Undu Reef is collected from Undu Reef off the eastern shore of Lake Malawi in Tanzania. This locality form of the Fairy Cichlid Peacock is distinguished by an especially intense yellow-orange to orange flush across the dorsal and caudal fins, combined with a deeply saturated electric-blue body. Some hobbyists regard the Undu Reef form as the most consistently vivid of all jacobfreibergi locality variants.

The Fairy Cichlid Peacock as a species is one of the most widespread Aulonocara, found along both Malawian and Tanzanian shores. Each locality has produced subtly distinct colour forms through geographic isolation. The Undu Reef population has been established in captive breeding lines in Europe for several decades, ensuring reliable availability.

In the aquarium, Undu Reef males command attention as centrepiece fish. With good nutrition and water quality, the orange fin colouration deepens noticeably. Keep in a hap-and-peacock community for optimal social conditions — avoid mixing with aggressive mbuna that may damage the longer, flowing fins of mature males.

Water: 24-28°C, pH 7.8-8.5, hard alkaline; high water clarity to display the vivid fin colouration. Tank: 250L minimum; sandy foraging areas combined with rocky structures and open display space. Feeding: Frozen mysis and krill as primary protein; quality cichlid pellets with astaxanthin enhance orange fins. Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder; clutch of 15-25 eggs; harem of one male to three females recommended. Compatibility: Semi-aggressive hap; ideal for hap-and-peacock community; fins vulnerable in aggressive mbuna tanks.